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what advice would you give that you wish someone had given you when you were expecting your first child??
Oh Sarah that is a very divisive subject lol. One person's advice is often not another's. I have plenty of advice and I really enjoyed my babies with no sleepless nights from 6 weeks unless they were ill. Routine. Every evening at same time it was bath, feed, bed. Their little bodies get used to it and it becomes second nature, just as adults who have a routine of bed and get up times do not need an alarm clock, your body knows when to wake.
One thing I cannot stand is a poor baby being wheeled around the streets late at night or put to bed at different times, how on earth do they then know when it is time to sleep. My bestie used to let her toddlers fall asleep anywhere anytime, sometimes as late as 5pm and then wonder why they wouldn't sleep at bedtime!
Sorry to keep on but I am bored today and think I will be commenting on here all day lol.
The one thing I wish I had NOT done was give my kids sugary treats. I am talking 46 years ago when there was not so much talk about diabetes and the dangers of too much sugar, obesity etc. Most parents start with the chocolate, ice cream etc for their own gratification as they want to see their child's face first time they try it. Babies are canny little things and they soon realise that after dinner comes pudding and they begin to refuse the dinner and hold out for the pudding and amazingly parents give into this baby blackmail! There is no need for puddings. I had a blender and when weaning, my kids had everything we ate, from spag bol to roast dinner liquidised. I froze portions too. Far tastier than the jars of muck in supermarket and healthier too.
I speak from the point of one who now has diabetes 2 and with adult sons who have a very sweet tooth and may end up with D2 as well.
Tbh the only advice I listened to was that of the drs! Don't get me wrong, I got some good advice, but I had a very difficult pregnancy and I counted down the days to my induction! I have a routine for my sons bedtime, but my son has never slept well due to his heart condition and then his routine was ruined after he was in the hospital for his operation. I still stick to his routine but he wakes up at midnight because he used to get medication at that time so he thinks its normal to wake up at that time! My son eats whatever we eat and I made all of his purees and finger food as it was cheaper and I needed to know exactly what was in his food!
All babies are different and what works for one will not necessarily work for another.
After my son was born no one tried to give me advice because they didn't have experience of our situation.
My advice would be to do what is best for you and your baby and don't be too hard on yourself when something doesn't go to plan.
Your situation was exceptional due to your sons health problems so lots of things would work for babies without those problems. You definitely needed to heed doctors advice for obvious reasons. But I do feel experience counts for a lot and a doctor without children is just as unqualified as anyone to give advice on non medical issues. Even lots of Dr Spock's advice is now ignored. But if something is proven to work it is worth passing on if parents are willing to take the advice, they can discard if it doesn't work. The fact that your son continued to wake for midnight meds proves what I said about sleep routines, his little body got used to it. None of my grandchildren, nieces nephews or any of our kids were bad sleepers and I hate it when people assume a new baby heralds 2 years of sleepless nights, medical conditions aside, it just isn't so.
With having 4 bedtime routine is a must for your own good not just baby. Time for you to unwind and relax. if your friends say theirs is doing this doing that don’t worry yourself all babies are different, I had first 3 that would all be sleeping by 7.30 and after 6 weeks in there own rooms. But last one I think is here to test my patience 
. Personally i didn’t take advice from health visitors as your the parent and you do what works for you and partner. don’t keep holding baby either unless upset this can lead to problams where baby will get too attached and won’t go down separation issues when need to go nursery. Honestly you got nothing to worry about it come naturally minute you hold that bundle of joy. Good luck
Nice one Ann, and as you say exceptions to every rule. It is important for parents to have us time at end of day and a baby/child that won't go down to sleep is stressful for everyone.
Lynibis with all the books made not one will help. I hope the op reads the advice given even and don’t worry herself. Even don’t be pushed into breastfeeding even though they say it’s best. Don’t bother buying top of range items it won’t get used for long yes her friends might have had a pram costing thousands and 6 months down line be in a stroller because they too big to get around
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